the bride by julie garwood

not recommended: eh. i can see how this book would have been good during its time. it was ok. it drug on a lot with the same old same old. i like the author's banter between the characters, but even that got old. blah blah blah.

lover revealed by j.r. ward

recommended: this was my least favorite of this series so far. i thought the relationship between butch and marissa was a little dramatic. one moment they're together, one moment they aren't. eh. buuuuuut....i did enjoy the development of the vampire war storyline. it turns out that butch had some vampire blood in his family history, so they were able to turn him. then, he ended up being this special "one" that everyone has been waiting for. he can sense the enemy and will be able to help in the fight against them.

also, i like how this author gears up for the next book/character. you can always tell which one is going to be next, but it helps me get excited about it. it also helps to give more background to the character before the next book. smart.

the ghost and the goth by stacey kade

not recommended: ok, so this one sounded good. i knew it would be cheesy but i was hoping for a few more laughs and a better ending. the story line was a little creative. the main character can see and speak to dead people, but he pretends like he can't, so they don't bother him. then, a girl at his school dies and makes him help her with her issues. i think it could have been a better book if the author was a better writer.

lover awakened by j.r. ward

recommened: this was by far my favorite of this series. this book outlines the life of zsadist, who was horrifically beaten and abused sexually for years. i loved this one the most because it flashes back many times and gives a history of his life first hand. i also loved the relationship between him and his twin brother and how that develops and grows. this is my favorite relationship between him and his girl bella. he doesn't have a clue of what love is because he is so broken and seems like no one can fix him. this is the only one that i would consider reading again because it was very moving. i almost cried a couple of times.

lover eternal by j.r. ward

recommended: i love this series1 it is so interesting and crazy awesome. i am enjoying it so much. i am reading each book in 24-48 hours and i can't wait to read the next one. this one is about rhage, who is the hollywood vampire. each of these stories is classic damsel in distress, but how can you not love that? i know i do! so rhage is a vampire who is cursed. every time his anger gets out of hand, a creature emerges that even he can't control. he meets mary who has cancer (yeah, i saw the ending coming a mile away, but i still loved it). anyway, instead of getting rid of his curse when he had the chance, he asked to remove mary's cancer. it was awesome. my favorite part was when rhage had to be punished because of disobeying an order. the brotherhood did not want to punish him, but it was the law. my favorite vampire, zsadist (i know, cheesy, but i love it), was a blood slave and is mangled from head to toe. when it was his turn to punish rhage, i almost cried because he just couldn't do it! anyway, onto the next!

dark lover by j.r. ward

recommended: ok, so i honestly don't want to be perceived as this crazy woman who reads those harlequin romance novels with those weird naked men on the front. and i dont think i could ever get to the point of reading a story that had everything to do with sex and nothing to do with a moving or interesting story line. but this book could be perceived as one of those books, and it really isn't. the story was super creative and interesting. it was a science fiction vampire story that i relate to blade in many ways. the main vampire is blind and he is the king of the vampire brotherhood, but he refuses to rule, so it tells the story of how he ascends to the throne, etc. yes, there is definitely sex scenes but they don't really bother me. they're just part of the story. and what woman doesn't love a little hot romance? anyway, i really liked this book. i probably won't keep it, but i will definitely keep reading through this series.

nobody's baby but mine by susan elizabeth phillips

recommended: well, i think i can conclude that if it is written by susan elizabeth phillips, then i'm going to at least enjoy it. this book was great. i was definitely entertained and was drawn into the characters and story. this wasn't my favorite of hers, and i may not keep this one, but i still enjoyed it. this book was about a single woman in her thirties that wants a baby, but she doesn't want to use a sperm bank because she doesn't want the baby to be as intelligent as she is because she sees it as more of a curse than a blessing. i enjoyed that she was a physicist. something that i see this author doing a lot is taking these absurd plots and making them hilarious because they are so crazy. at the same time, i could completely see situations like this happening in real life because real life is absurd.

a knight in shining armor by jude deveraux

recommended: this books was great as well. great story of timeless love. the main character wishes for the a knight in shining armor and he appears. at times, it was cheesy, but i was written in the 80's, so what do you expect? then after they fall in love, he goes back to his time. then, she has to go back to the 14th century to save his life and they fall in love again. i don't think i would read it again, but it was a good read.

ransom by julie garwood

recommend: this was a historical romance that i thoroughly enjoyed. this is the first julie garwood book i've read, and she is a very good story teller. this takes place in england and the main character's family is killed and a small jewelry box disappears. The mystery of the story keeps it going, while the romance between two different couples keeps you interested as well. Great characters! Loved it!

it had to be you by susan elizabeth phillips

recommended: this book is the first book in the chicago stars series, and i definitely enjoyed it. it is the story of phoebe and dan. phoebe inherits her fathers football team of whom dan is the coach. it was witty and fun, and i will definitely keep it to read again.